Legislation and certification lay the foundation for safeguarding biodiversity in the forest – but that’s only the starting point. Leading Nature Expert Timo Lehesvirta from Metsä Group speaks about the goals of regenerative forestry which go beyond traditional forest certification.
We want to boost the state of forest nature with a holistic approach,” Timo Lehesvirta
platform to develop our target-oriented frame- work with Metsä Group Plus. However, Metsä Group Plus goes beyond forest certification,” Lehesvirta says. Metsä Group Plus has been available for Metsä Group’s owner-members for almost three years. In the Metsä Group Plus management model, decaying wood is added to forests, as are trees of different ages and sizes that provide habitats for many plant and animal species. The management model also empha- sises water protection. “We’re demonstrating a model where the forest thrives: both timber production and nature are secured. Our goal is to have a net-positive impact.” BIODIVERSITY IS A MUST Ultimately, the objective of regenerative forestry is to increase forest biodiversity and improve forests’ vitality and climate resil- ience. Lehesvirta notes that as the number of different species increases, so does the forest’s resilience. “This is exactly what Metsä Group Plus is going for: we want to maximise the local nature values and provide a full range of eco- system services.” Metsä Group’s customers include 90,000 forest owners who already have access to Metsä Group Plus. Lehesvirta’s message to them is that the new model is the perfect com- bination of business and science. “Pursuing more diverse mixed forests means better deals for wood, too.”
says. In regenerative forestry, the aim is above all to ensure that the state of forest nature does not deteriorate but, instead, grows stronger. To meet this goal, Metsä Group has implemented a targeted regenerative forestry programme. The company aims to improve – measurably, of course – the state of forest nature by 2030. “The focus is increasingly on the eco- system services forests provide,” Lehesvirta says, adding that forests are not for procuring wood only; there’s water assets, mushrooms, berries, herbs as well as tourism and travel opportunities and documented health benefits for those who venture into the woods. “We must consider them all and do what we can to safeguard them,” says Lehesvirta who is a biologist by training. There are business sensitivities, too: since biodiversity, nature protection and sustainable forest practices are now essential consider- ations for global brand owners working with fibre-based packaging, for example. REGENERATIVE FORESTRY FOR ALL! Regenerative forestry includes a wide range of measures and forest services. Forest owners can choose the Metsä Group Plus manage- ment model, which takes biodiversity into account more extensively than established practices during forestry operations. “Forestry certificates have given us a solid
Timo Lehesvirta Leading Nature Expert, Metsä Forest
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